The Dropkick Murphys

The hardcore punk/Celtic folk outfit Dropkick Murphys formed in South Boston in 1995; vocalist Mike McColgan, guitarist Rick Barton, and bassist Ken Casey comprised the original nucleus of the group, with a series of drummers passing through the lineup before the addition of Matt Kelly in 1997. After a series of EPs including Fire & Brimstone, Tattoos & Scally Caps, and Boys on the Docks, the Dropkick Murphys signed to Hellcat Records to issue their 1998 full-length Do or Die, produced by Rancid's Lars Frederiksen; McColgan exited the group soon after (he later went on to form the like-minded Street Dogs) and was replaced by vocalist Al Barr for the follow-up, 1999's The Gang's All Here.

Mob Mentality, a split release with the Business, appeared in mid-2000, but at the same time the band was going through an extensive redesign. Their five-piece arrangement expanded into a septet, as Marc Orrell stepped in after original guitarist Rick Barton left the band to get married. James Lynch (guitar), Spicy McHaggis (bagpipes), and Ryan Foltz (mandolin) were also added to the lineup to enhance the band's growling sound. Frederiksen, who produced the band's first two albums, left the Dropkicks to venture out on their own for their third studio effort, Sing Loud, Sing Proud. Bassist Ken Casey took over, and the album, which featured collaborations with ex-PogueShane MacGowan and C**k Sparrer's Colin McFaull, was issued in early 2001.

Their Irish pride shone through the next year, when Live on St. Patrick's Day from Boston, MA was released in the summer. Recorded at the biggest Irish-American celebration of the year in a town known for its widespread Irish heritage, the set was a blistering example of their intense and lively gigs. As the band prepped for the annual Vans Warped Tour in summer 2003, they released Blackout in June; the album featured new bagpipe player Scruffy Wallace and accordionist Tim Brennan (who further took over mandolin and tin whistle after Foltz left following some touring). The Murphys reworked the Boston Red Sox anthem "Tessie" on their mid-2004 EP Tessie, which subsequently became the theme song to the Sox's World Series run that year. Warrior's Code followed in 2005, and one of its songs, "I'm Shipping Up to Boston," was later used in the 2006 Martin Scorsese film The Departed. Soon after, the band recorded The Meanest of Times, a collection of songs about family loyalty, featuring guest appearances by Spider Stacy of the Pogues and Ronnie Drew of the Dubliners, and released in mid-September 2007. In January 2008, however, Orrell announced his decision to leave the band in order to pursue other projects. Live on Lansdowne, Boston MA, a CD/DVD of tracks culled from 2009's week of St. Patrick's Day shows in Boston, was released in 2010. For their next studio effort, the band looked inward to create a concept album, combining their own experiences to create the fictional character Cornelius Larkin. The result was their seventh album, Going Out in Style, which was released in 2011 on their Born & Bred label. 2012 saw the band follow up with Live at Fenway before returning the next year with their eighth studio effort, Signed and Sealed in Blood. ~ Jason Ankeny, Rovi

The Dropkick Murphys are great, starting with their name and ending with the riotous renditions of their songs. Compared with the gentle folk-rock type Irish music popular thirty years ago, these guys are the baddest punk rockers. I love them. Salante Mar (?) Not sure of the spelling, but here is a toast to ye!

Green fields of France reminds me of my friend Damien. A true Irish man he was. I love you brother. God knows I drank many a beer for you Tuesday. I threw one to the heavens and told st peter to catch.

I'm first generation Irish and 65 years old these men are the Nuts! and I would love to have them perform at my Wake! hope not to soon. DKM is the best of the U.S. I still love the Clancey Bros. and Celtic Thunder. To all friends that ere I had are sorry for my goin' away, and to all the love ones that ere I had, would me one more day to stay. But so it falls unto my lot, that I should rise and you and shall not . So fill to me a Parting Glass, Peace and Love be with you All!

These guys started in Georgetown Mass on the Northshore where I grew up. Saw several shows in Boston before they hit the mainstream. All I can say is I've seen some amazing concerts in my days but never one with such energy fueled mosh pits with solid brotherhood ever! Oi! Oi! Oi!

Before a game against a team we haven't won against ever, I sang Take Em Down, Warrior's Code, and some other DKM songs on the bus ride to the game, and we CREAMED them!!! We won by a LANDSLIDE!! I swear it was because I lead the team in song!!!